Appreciative coaching
A coaching approach inspired and informed by appreciative inquiry.
What is Appreciative Inquiry (AI)?
Appreciative Inquiry is a communication method that creates a collaborative search for what gives “life” to a living system when it is at its best. AI values and recognises the best in people and affirms strengths and positive potential. AI is an art and a practice that involves the act of “exploration and discovery” in asking questions to discover positive potential (Cooperrider & Whitney, 2005).
Appreciative Inquiry, grounded in the theory of social construction, is a perspective, a way of seeking and understanding the best in a living system. “It is a theory, a mindset and an approach to analysis that leads to learning and creativity” (Cooperrider, Magruder, & Watkins, 2000).
Appreciative Inquiry was first coined (in 1986) by Cooperrider and Srivastava in the Cleveland report, which gave rise to AI as a method of creating positive transformation and development in human systems (organisations).
What is Appreciative Coaching (AC)?
The aim of appreciative coaching (AC) is to apply the principles of appreciative inquiry (AI) to the personal coaching process by using constructive questioning (involving others, where appropriate) to remain positive throughout the process, to boost the clients’ ability to identify and use all their strengths and resources (particularly their support network) and sustainably achieve their goals.
The 4-D stages of AI (Discovery, Dream, Design and Destiny) provide a positive framework to the coaching process and help it remain constructive and on course throughout the Journey.
The Discovery stage reveals the client’s positive capacities.
The dream stage inspires the client and generates optimism and hope.
The design stage explores creative ideas and generates inspiring and stimulating possibilities.
The Destiny stage calls to action to realise the new vision.
Appreciative coaching also draws on the five core principles of AI: constructionist principle, simultaneity principle, poetic principle, anticipatory principle, and positive principle. Using these principles, appreciative coaching develops a foundation for creating a sustainable transformation in people.
The constructionist principle (words create worlds) reflects the idea that AI is founded on a constructionist perspective and appreciates the power of language in creating a sense of possibility and relevance.
The simultaneity principle (inquiry is change) emphasises that inquiry and change go hand-in-hand, where the inquiry process sows the seeds of change.
The anticipatory principle (image inspires action) leads clients to positive actions by generating positive images of their success.
The poetic principle (what we focus on grows) Links the means and ends of the inquiry and produces a source of learning and inspiration.
The positivist principle (positive questions lead to positive change) reflects that the more positive the questions are, the more sustainable and successful the change is.
In AI (and in AC), interviews (sometimes called appreciative conversations) are structured conversations that focus mostly on strengths and opportunities and are often used to find the positive core (strengths) of the client to promote confidence and hope. Moreover, the appreciative conversation provides chances for reframing challenges into opportunities. This positive approach does not ignore the problems but looks at them from a different perspective. The conversation is solution-focused rather than being problem centred.
In a nutshell, AC emphasises building on “what works” and on people’s strengths. It encourages co-creativity and co-design and generates solutions and actions “owned” by the client, boosting their resilience and well-being.